167 
ham’s, 11 removing the place of a gateway, one post was Oak, the 
other Chesnut only a foot square, & by the date on it had stood 
50 years. This was sound, & set down again; & the Oak 
was quite rotten. & some years ago, some railing was done at 
Mr. Windhams with posts of Oak & Chesnut (the same size) 
these being moved this year, all those of Oak were rotten, & all 
of Chesnut served again. But this Tree certainly splits more with 
frost, tlian Oak; but must be excellent for paling. Had Fortune 
given me your acquaintance 40 years ago, i should have been a 
great gainer, & you but little. Be assured dear Sir, that your 
letters are always a Feast to me, & that i remain with 
true esteem your most humble servant 
It: Marsham. 
P.S. As long as i have measured Trees, by way of calculating 
their age by their size, i did not attend to the height from the 
earth, when i took the circumference: & i find my friends have 
been as careless as myself. Whereas an Oak mostly increases one 
third more at one foot from the earth, than it does at 5 feet. 
Thus, e. g. the Oak i planted in 1720, is at 5 f. 9 F. 5 I. 7 10'. & at 
1 f. is 1 3 f. & my best Oak at 5 f. is but 1 4 F. 3 I ., which at 1 f. is 1 9 F. 
o I. How, tho’ i saw my Trees were larger near the earth, i never 
considered that they must increase more yearly to make that bulk : 
& yet i think when Willoughby was writing on the fern-Owl, 
he should have recollected that he did not see that bird in 
Winter But i acknowledge he has done a great deal ; & I am 
often obliged to him, for the trouble he has taken. 
[This letter is franked by “ H. Hobart,” and is endorsed by White “ Mr. 
Marsham Feb. 17. 1792.”] 
11 William Windham of Felbrigg (born 1750, died 1S10), for many years 
M.P. for Norwich and subsequently for Higliam Ferrers, Chief Secretary for 
Ireland (1783), Secretary at War (1794— 1S01), and Secretary of State for 
War an 1 the Colonies 1S06 — 1807. The evidence afforded by the next of 
Marsham’s letters shews that he was recommended to White’s book by 
Windham, who possibly became acquainted with it through Daines Barring- 
ton like himself a member of “ The Club.” In connexion with the text may 
•also be mentioned Loudon’s statement (op. cit. p. 1990) that one of Windham’s 
ancestors was a considerable planter of Chestnuts. — A.N. 
